June 27, 2010

Buddy Bell’s minor-league philosophy

Buddy Bell’s job with the Chicago White Sox is in player development, which means he’s constantly assessing talent and judging the potential of minor-league prospects.And that doesn’t always mean he’s looking for prodigious power and 100 mph fastballs.

“I watch for kids who aren’t afraid to make mistakes,” said Bell, the former major-league star who was in Great Falls over the weekend to watch the Voyagers. “These guys have to have enough courage to keep getting after it.

“More than anything, I watch how kids respond to failure. Because if you can’t get up off the canvas, you can’t play this game.